Venezuela News: China, Russia, Iran May Take Advantage Of Likely Humanitarian Crisis, US Admiral Says

Mounting political and economic turmoil in Venezuela could lead to a humanitarian crisis and instability in Latin America, the admiral in charge of the U.S. Southern Command said in a report Thursday to the Senate. If such instability takes place in the region, Russia, China and Iran — who have ties with Venezuela — may take advantage of the situation, the admiral added.

"Over the past decade, China, Russia, and Iran have established a greater presence in the region. ... These global actors view the Latin American economic, political, and security arena as an opportunity to achieve their respective long-term objectives and advance interests that may be incompatible with ours and those of our partners," Admiral Kurt W. Tidd, the commander of the U.S. Southern Command, said in the report to the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Read: Venezuelan Opposition Leader Arrested On Terrorism​

Recession-triggered shortage of food and other basic requirements has led to several protests and demonstrations in the South American nation against the government.

"Venezuela faces significant instability in the coming year due to widespread food, and medicine shortages; continued political uncertainty; and a worsening economic situation," Tidd said in the report. "The growing humanitarian crisis in Venezuela could eventually compel a regional response," he added in the document, which was first reported by TeleSur.

The military official also warned that the Latin American region was prone to “extremist networks, like ISIS, which are radicalizing and recruiting individuals.”

“We know there is a presence of radicalized individuals to whom the ISIS message is very appealing,” Tidd said.

Also on Thursday, Venezuelan opposition protesters clashed with security officers after the Supreme Court-controlled President Nicolas Maduro’s socialist government stripped the opposition-led National Assembly of its legislative powers.

"The human rights advocate has to stop being the Socialist Party advocate!" opposition leader Henrique Capriles said, according to Reuters.

Venezuela is witnessing triple-digit inflation with shortage of foods and medicines. The country also has one of the highest murder rates in the world, Reuters reported.

However, Maduro’s government held responsible a U.S.-backed business elite for the country’s economic tensions. It has also alleged Washington is behind the protests to topple Maduro who assumed power in 2013 after the death of former President Hugo Chavez.